The "Zulu's" of the Air Force turn 25

 

The "Zulu's", No.08 light transport squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force celebrates its 25th anniversary last week. Pictures by SLAF.

By Asiri Fernando

The No.08 light transport squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force, known by their call sign 'Zulu' celebrates 25 years of service last week. 

The squadron was established on 2 April 1996 with Y-12 transport and Beechcraft B200 surveillance aircraft. However, the origins of the squadron lay in No. 201 Squadron, an offspring of the No.02 Squadron and actively engaged in a range of combat support operations since 1987. 

The squadron played a crucial role during the 30 year-long internal conflict. The 08's Y-12 aircraft were workhorses delivering supplies, transporting troops and evacuating casualties to medical facilities. 

SLAF Y-12 aircraft

"The 15-seater Y-12 aircraft was utilized for many multitudes of air operations during the local theatre of war with a small crew working relentlessly during day and night." the SLAF said, adding that the Y-12s of the squadron were also used in offensive air operations by dropping improvised bombs on to enemy-held territory during the initial stage of the conflict due to lack of combat aircraft. 

According to SLAF source, the Y-12 is much loved by its crews due to its versatility of being the only fixed-wing aircraft in the SLAF inventory that can operate to and from any airfield in the country. 

The Beechcraft B200 aircraft also played a pivotal role in the war effort once they were converted to a surveillance platform. The B200 were also used for communications intelligence (COMINT) duties and equipped with sensors such as Day/Night Cameras in 1996, provided better situational awareness and reconnaissance capability for the armed forces. 

A Beechcraft King Air B200 ISR aircraft of the SLAF.

The B200 surveillance aircraft turned the squadron into becoming a force multiplier by providing strategist and battlefield commanders time-critical intelligence, coordination and battle damage assessment capability.  According to the SLAF, the B200 also identified and coordinated attacks against high-value targets of the LTTE and their naval wing, the Sea Tigers. 

The squadron has recorded one of the highest numbers of flying hours, more than 105,500 since its inception in 1987. The "Zulu's" also convert air force pilots to fly multi-engine aircraft. 

"The No.08 Squadron is one of the most versatile formations in the Sri Lanka Air Force. Although our primary role is to transport, the squadron is tasked with a range of roles" the squadron's commanding officer, Group Captain Poojana Gunathilake told DefenceAsia. Gp Capt Gunathilake stated that the Squadron's air and ground crew are its most valuable asset. 

According to Gunathilake, the squadron currently undertakes a range of specialized tasks assigned to them. These include; air surveillance to detect deforestation, illegal sand mining and fishing, cloud seeding and aerial seeding for reforestation, search and rescue, parachuting and acting as an airborne command center to coordinate disaster response. 

Supporting law enforcement authorities by gathering information regarding unlawful and unwarranted activities over land and Sri Lanka's maritime domain, supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations in the time of natural calamities are key roles entrusted to the squadron during peacetime, the SLAF said. 

A MA-60 transport aircraft.

The squadron inducted two MA60 passenger transport aircraft in 2011 and was tasked with being the hub for the Government's domestic commercial air service, under the flag of ‘Helitours’.  

According to the SLAF, the Squadron sustained one loss during the war; a Y-12 on a maritime surveillance mission, listed as missing in action in 1997. The two crew members of the aircraft are remembered as the Squadrons' only combat loss. Another Y-12 aircraft ( Registration no SCL-857) on a routine surveillance flight, crashed near Haputhale in January 2020, killing four crew members. 

The Sri Lanka Air Force is planning to acquire two new Y-12 aircraft in the near future to replace the older variants which are coming to an end of their service life after nearly 30 years of service.